Ladislav Zelenka

Ladislav Zelenka was born July 30, 1929 in Domazlice, Czechoslovakia to Marta (Holy) Zelenka and Alois Zelenka. Two years later, he was joined by his brother Slava Zelenka. After receiving his high school diploma, he studied as an apprentice to become a printer. Lad met Eva Smrčina in Karlovy Vary where they married in October 1964. They escaped communist Czechoslovakia in 1968 and settled in Beloit, Wisconsin near Eva’s sister Zdenka Novak. Eva’s mother Albina Smrčina lived with them in Beloit. Their daughter Andrea was born in Beloit in 1972.

In Wisconsin, Lad worked as a printer and retired from Warner Electric in 1994. He was an avid gardener and when he was not walking their dogs in the neighborhood, he could often be seen tending to his plants and flowers or the compost bin. Their property was always immaculately landscaped and the dinner table often included vegetable bounty from the garden. He was a member of the Men’s Gardening Club, volunteered at the Rotary Garden, and earned his Master Gardener certification. Lad especially enjoyed tending to roses.

In 2019, Lad and Eva moved to Rotterdam, New York where Lad once again took great pride in the landscaping at their house.

Ladislav Zelenka died December 15, 2022 at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, New York after a blessedly brief fight with stomach cancer. He survived his parents and younger brother Slava and is survived by his wife Eva Zelenka, their daughter Andrea Cass and son-in-law Aaron Cass, and nephews Reno Novak and Frank Novak along with their families.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Lad’s memory to the NYOH Community Cancer Foundation, 449 Route 146 Suite 101, Clifton Park, New York 12065 . https://tinyurl.com/forLadislav